Been given a Mac G4

Dev

Dev

Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,764
Reaction score
4
Location
Ilford, Essex, UK
A 350MHz Power PC with a GB of SDRAM running OSX 10.4.8. Obviously too slow for serious work but I think it should be OK for syncing iPod and general web browsing. My main machine will remain the faithful ubuntu PC.

A couple of questions though (please bear in mind this is the first time I've used a Mac):-

1) How do you map drives to a Samba server. I searched for ages without any luck until (through broadcasts I guess) it discovered my Samba server. How does one force the Mac to look for a particular server (by IP address say as you can with Linux)?

2) Is there an easy way to transfer address/calendar information from MS Outlook. I know it's possible to export the Outlook inforrmation as a CSV file, socan the Mac import this for syncing into iPod?
 
I run ubuntu on my PC quite happily. Thank You Mr Hippy:). Actually I only want the Mac for syncing iPod but I also wanted to see what the fuss was about and playing with it raised a few more questions. Eg, why does my music folder reports that it has twice the amount of disk space than it actually has, how do I look at hidden files and how do you start a terminal session? (only curious, no real need so far).

Where is iGary when you need him? Oops, that's another question:D.
 
how do I look at hidden files and how do you start a terminal session?
Click to expand...

Hidden files are viewable from a terminal window and terminal is in applications/utilities. There are various 3rd party apps that let you get at the 'hidden settings' in the OS-X GUI, TinkerTool is probably the best - it's the equivalent to TweakUI in Windows.

I know nothing about Samba, but have you tried 'go -> connect to server' from the Finder menu?

I don't know the answer as to why your iTunes folder is reporting odd sizes - I've never played with iTunes much as I've got a record player!

Tony.

PS As you appear to be a geek I'd install X11 - it's a free download from Apple or on your install DVD (slightly older version).
 
Sorry I cannot answer your initial questions because they seem to require answers to getting macs to play with PCs, I do not have PCs in my house so do not know.

I did search for samba on macupdate.com

http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?keywords=samba&os=macosx&button.x=0&button.y=0

Don't know if any of that is useful

I cannot find a lot on outlook to mac. BUt must confess I am struggling to understand why?

Mail will happily work with most kinds of email POP, IMAP etc you just need to enter the data. If your emails are on the server they will be downloaded. If you have opted for them emails to be deleted then just keep the ones you have in outlook.

I do find it odd that people want to keep hundreds of emails for years at a time!
 
Thanks Tony/Gary,

Samba works fine AFTER the Mac has discovered the MS domain or workgroup from broadcasts (I suspect). I wanted to be able to map a drive without waiting for the Mac to discover the available servers, which can take a long time. As you can with XP/Linux etc. Once discovered you can then just add the "mappings" to the dock. So that will have to suffice.

I had X11 installed. It was a pre-requisite for Open Office. I don't think I'm a geek;).

I have a suspicion that the reason for having twice the amount of disk space in the music folder is because I was importing the music to iTunes and there is an option to copy the music files to the iTunes library, which was checked. Why would anyone want multiple copies on the same machine? Anyway, I unchecked it when I saw it but by that time it had copied nearly all the files over. However, I cannot for the life of me find these copied files in iTunes folder. I'd haver thought that canceling the copying would have deleted whatever it had already copied.

Gary, the Outlook thing is purely to see if it's possible. I currently sync my Outlook information to my mobile. I just thought that if I could sync to my iPod instead I could get a simpler mobile with a long battery life. It's just a nice to have and I'm just curious, that's all.

BTW, guys, DON'T EVER BUY A WIRELESS KEYBOARD/MOUSE. I bought a Microsoft USB wireless keyboard and mouse for £23 and have used up 8 x AA batteries in 2 days. ARGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I remember reading something about using another mail client as the third party and managed to find the info:

* on the PC, install ThunderBird - when you start it for the first time, it will ask you to import messages from your Outlook profile (and does a terrific job with that!)
* copy the resulting Thunderbird profile folder containing the mbox files to your new Mac and use Eudora Mailbox Cleaner to import them into Mail:
http://homepage.mac.com/aamann/
 
If you got a blue tooth module for the G4 you could reasonably use the Address book etc with your phone, depending on the model.
 
Gary, I don't think I explain it too well. I don't want to be able to login to our Exchange Servers. Our VPN client is only supported for XP anyway. I justed a one off dump of addresses/Telephone and appointments to the Mac. After it was on the Mac I'd keep that updated. I'm sure the Nokia phone can sync with Mac.

I certainly have no use for mail client on the Mac. Anyway, as I mentioned above it's not that important I was just curious as to what is possible.
 
garyi said:
If you got a blue tooth module for the G4 you could reasonably use the Address book etc with your phone, depending on the model.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea. I'm sure I can get a bluetooth card. At the moment I just wanted to play with the Mac, see whether I like it enough to get a Mac mini to replace the Mac and ubuntu.
 
Dev - I bought a keysonic wireless keyboard with inbuilt touchpad for 30 quid from ebuyer, batteries have lasted 6 weeks so far and it works a treat.
 
I've the Logitech MX5000/1000 bluetooth combo.

I usually put the MOuse back into it's charging cradle, but it will and has lasted for quite a while between charges anyhow. The board uses AA, and they've lasted several MOnths so far too.
 
OK, guys. This is rubbing salt into wounds (and it hurts).:D.

The Microsoft set was recommended as being more Mac friendly than Logitech, rather ironic I think. Well, I guess I have to pay for the free Mac somehow.
 
Tony/Gary,

In case you're curious the reason my home folder took up so much extra space was due to fact that while playing with it, I had turned on file vault. Apparently it makes it virutally impossible for anyone to read your encrypted files without the password. Makes it bloody slow to read and write files as well:D.

Otherwise, it seems just like using a very good Linux machine. I hope that doesn't offend. I think I could happily live with a Mac, ubuntu or a SuSE machine at home.
 
Dev

I too am thinking of replacing my PC with a Mac. Had so much hassle with a graphics card on my PC (an nVdia GEforce 2MX by Asus) - can't seem to find drivers that are XP compatible although Asus and nVidia say they are. Kept getting the Blue Screen of Death. I think part of the problem is ther Via cipset of my motherboard - anyway now sorted.

Please let me know how you get on with the Mac. Another compelling reason for me going Mac is my mother-in-law wants to get online and I know I'll just end up being her PC support person:eek:

Looked at mac mini but processor doesn't seems so powerful. Of course I only use ot for surfing, email and the occasional letter I need to send:D
 
I wouldn't rely on the specs to decide whether it'll be fast enough. Just go to the Apple store in Regents Street and play with one.

Regarding PC v Mac. I really could live with either. I am almost Microsoft free at home, using only the Microsoft Messenger for Mac:). For my PC everything is free/opensource and so far been reliable.

For proper advice, I'd listen to others, not me. I only have a few hours experience of a (slow) Mac.
 
Dev the point I was making with the bluetooth module is that they are like 6 quid (A usb version) If you phone has bluetooth it could then sync with the mac and pass on all your contacts to the mac.

It depends what phone you have.

The info I gave on the getting stuff from Outlook would also work, it would put contacts etcs onto the mac so that Mail could read it, the contacts would then go into the address book application.
 
Hi Gary,

Yes I had understood that. My phone is a Nokia N70 and it syncs with Outlook just fine but there is no software for syncing to Mac. It's not a big problem though. On the whole I'm perfectly happy with the Mac.
 
Dev, one thing you will soon learn is that often software is not required.

The N70 is fully compatible. Plug in a USB bluetooth module and set the phone to bluetooth on, the mac will guide you the rest of the way.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top